Catchment areas

Is the one you’re wanting to send her to an academy? There is an academy by us which isn’t by catchment area as they take kids from all over. Maybe it’s similar?

No its not a academy but we will wait and see if he ends up in the only one we are in the catchment area for I wont be mad. I just like the other one because its a through school and suit my lo more.

I was trying to figure this out too 🙈 have you guys been to view any schools?

It’s quite confusing. But schools have different catchments depending on how many classes per year group. So we are 600m from our closest school, but because they are only 1 form entry, their general rule for catchment is within 500m radius so we’re just out. Again with the next school, it’s 3 form entry and we’re 1.1km from it when their catchment is within 1km. The one we are in catchment for, we used to work at and don’t want to send our child there. Hoping that the one we’re sending her to nursery at continues to be under subscribed (as it’s linked to a junior school separately which is a put off for some parents, not because it’s a bad school)

Catchments do change every year and if a school is undersubscribed, they will look outside of the catchment

We’re only in catchment for one school which my children don’t attend. We’re at the CofE school which is technically closer to our house! Some schools work on villages some work on distance some work on parish boundaries! It’s different for all! I’d suggest going to look at the ones near you to see what they have to offer before making a decision! We know that Maxi will follow his older siblings into their school so we don’t need to worry about not being in catchment anymore cos usually once one is in the others follow too 😂

Défi Italy go visit the schools which are options for you. We are just outside my favourite school, but on the visit there the head said they tend to have spaces for kids from my street each year, and although she cannot guarantee it for 2025, she said the chances of a place are high. Some schools like catholic or Church of England take from wider catchment area as well.

So I will caveat this with saying we’re catholics so are only applying for catholic schools.. I also live in a small town which has A LOT of primary schools!
Where I live we are in catchment for at least 5 schools if not 7.. BUT we don’t want our closest catholic school (the severely failed my son) but will still be putting it as our 3rd and final option as we don’t want a school too far away for her

Apply for the non catchment school but at least put the catchment school as your last option! The last thing you want is to be allocated a rubbish school much further away from your home!

we are going to view some at the end of September asthats when their open days are.

You can apply for a school that isn't in your catchment area. There is only one school in our catchment area and it's literally 3 doors down, but we are aren't listing as a choice due no childcare in the area. I have spoken to the school I want and they say they accept out of catchment area.